Nuance Introduces Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 - Advanced Speech Recognition that Transforms the PC Experience

Dramatic Accuracy Gains and Eliminating Training RequirementsCreate Superior and More Natural PC Experience for Everyone

Nuance Communications (Nasdaq: NUAN), a leading provider of speechand imaging solutions, today introduced Dragon(TM)NaturallySpeaking(R) version 9, a new release of the world'sbest-selling speech recognition solution for Microsoft Windows. Thenew version promises to transform the way people use their PCs, movingaccuracy levels up to 99% and becoming the first desktop speechrecognition software that truly eliminates the need to train thesoftware to a user's voice.

"For more than a decade, industry leaders have forecast the daythat speech recognition would become as valuable as the keyboard andmouse in using the PC, even becoming a primary way for creatingdocuments and controlling applications," said Paul Ricci, chairman andCEO of Nuance Communications, Inc. "To a great extent, version eightof Dragon NaturallySpeaking finally delivered the accuracy levelsneeded to move speech recognition into the mainstream. Today, with thenew release, we have overcome the final obstacles to adoption and madespeech as seamless as the keyboard and mouse, creating a superior,more productive experience that will introduce new generations ofusers to speech recognition."

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 allows people to perform nearly anycomputing task by speaking with their PC. This innovative softwaresupports almost all Windows applications and instantly turns thenatural voice into text or commands at speeds up to 160 words perminute with accuracy levels that can reach 99 percent - which isfaster and more precise than typing. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9delivers significant improvements for existing users, as well as newfeatures designed to expand the use of speech recognition beyond themillions of professionals, enthusiasts and people with disabilitieswho already use the software.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 delivers on what matters most inrecognition products, providing accuracy levels that are unrivaled indesktop speech recognition, 20 percent higher than the previousrelease. Dragon NaturallySpeaking users gain the added benefit ofavoiding spelling errors and typing mistakes, making speech a morenatural and satisfying experience.

The new release also removes one of the most significant issuesthat has caused many people to resist even trying speech recognition -"training" or "enrollment." In historical implementations of speechrecognition, users were faced with the time-consuming requirement ofreading specific scripts, allowing the speech recognition to "learn"the voice of the user. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is the first-everdesktop speech recognition product to eliminate training while stilldelivering highly accurate results.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking also improves its accuracy as it is used,learning and honing its precision with every dictated word. Byremoving the need to specifically train the product users can startrealizing the benefits of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 more quickly thanever before. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 includes a full library ofre-designed on-screen tutorials that significantly reduce the time ittakes to become an every-day user of the software. DragonNaturallySpeaking 9 also includes support for Bluetooth(R) headsetsand microphones, as well as Tablet PCs and a number of new mobiledevices, giving people the freedom to dictate wirelessly or on-the-gowith a PDA or digital recorder.

A Breakthrough in Speech Recognition for Microsoft Windows

Dragon NaturallySpeaking makes speech recognition available forevery user, from the novice to the PC expert. The DragonNaturallySpeaking family includes different versions specificallydesigned for varying levels of PC user: Dragon NaturallySpeakingProfessional for busy corporate professionals or organizations; DragonNaturallySpeaking Preferred for the PC enthusiast or home officeworker; and Dragon NaturallySpeaking Standard for the casual home PCuser.

To help users achieve an increased level of productivity andunparalleled levels of accuracy, Nuance has added a number of keycapabilities to Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9:

Key Benefits

-- Most Accurate Ever - Significant improvements to the Dragon NaturallySpeaking recognition system have yielded an accuracy improvement of more than 20 percent over the previous release, and nearly 40 percent over version 7 - resulting in speech recognition accuracy levels as high as 99 percent.

-- First to Eliminate Training - Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is the first desktop speech recognition solution to truly remove the time need to "train" the software - and still deliver accurate results.

-- Speech Seamlessly Integrated - Simply install Dragon NaturallySpeaking and you have added speech input and control to virtually all of your Microsoft Windows applications. The new release includes specific integration with Microsoft(R) Office, Outlook(R) and Internet Explorer(R), as well as Corel(R) WordPerfect(TM) and Mozilla(TM) Firefox(R) and Thunderbird(TM).

-- New-found Mobility, Portability - New support for Nuance-approved Bluetooth headsets gives users the freedom to dictate wirelessly, without being tethered to a PC. In addition, users can capture dictation with mobile devices such as digital recorders, Palm(R) Tungsten(TM) and Pocket PCs for automatic transcription by Dragon NaturallySpeaking when synched with the PC.

-- Enterprise Features - Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 9 can be accessed from anywhere on a network, even thin client Citrix(R) terminals. Improved network tools allow administrators to easily manage Dragon NaturallySpeaking deployments over a network to multiple clients.

"Dragon NaturallySpeaking's accuracy is exceptional," saidAlexandria Carstens, consultant and trainer at Speakeasy Solutions,Inc. "This new release is a productivity tool that no person who usesa computer should be without. Dragon NaturallySpeaking can easilydouble or triple my output, dramatically reducing the time it takes meto perform many tasks."

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is also Section 508 certified to allowhands-free use of the PC for those with disabilities and to assistpeople with carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stressinjuries. Dragon NaturallySpeaking has been shown to reduce temporarylabor costs and insurance premiums by reducing repetitive stressinjuries and worker compensation claims. The enterprise features inthis new release will make deploying Dragon NaturallySpeaking tomultiple users in a corporate environment even easier and morecost-effective.

The latest release of Dragon NaturallySpeaking comes from theworld's expert in speech recognition - Nuance. Nuance speechtechnology touches millions of people every day as they interact withtheir bank or airline reservation system by voice, dial by voice fromtheir cell phone, or interact with their car's navigation system.

Availability

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Standard, Preferred and Professionalare available immediately through Nuance's global network of resellerpartners, software retailers and professional sales organizations.Dragon NaturallySpeaking Medical and Legal solutions, as well as theDragon NaturallySpeaking SDK, are available through Nuance's valueadded partners worldwide. For additional information on features,pricing and volume licensing programs, please visitNuance.com/NaturallySpeaking or call (1) 800-443-7077.

Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance (Nasdaq: NUAN) is the leading provider of speech andimaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Itstechnologies, applications and services make the user experience morecompelling by transforming the way people interact with informationand how they create, share and use documents. Every day, millions ofusers and thousands of businesses experience Nuance's provenapplications and professional services. For more information, pleasevisit nuance.com.

Nuance, the Nuance logo, Dragon and NaturallySpeaking aretrademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. orits affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All othertrademarks referenced herein are the property of their respectiveowners.

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans,events or performance are forward-looking statements that involverisks and uncertainties, including risks associated with markettrends, competitive factors, and other risks identified in Nuance'sSEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differmaterially. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on theseforward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.